San Juan Public Lands People - USDA Forest Service

2 SAN SAN JUAN JUAN PUBLIC PUBLIC LANDS LANDS PEOPLE
PEOPLE
PUBLIC LANDS CENTER NEWS
Jessey’s Bayfield Bound
BAYFIELD – Jessey Ramirez, San Juan GIS Specialist, has been working on
planning and travel management projects in the PLC since 2004, but will now
be sharing her time with the Columbine Office.
“I’ll be in Bayfield working on Columbine projects one day a week to start
and then more as PLC projects demand less of my time,” she says.
Jessey started her federal career in 2003 under the Student Career Experience
Program, working on San Juan projects remotely from Missoula, while
completing her Master’s degree in Geography at the University of Montana.
She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Geology from
St. Lawrence University in New York State.
Mrs. Jessey Ramirez is married to Mr. Jesse Ramirez, whom she met when he
was Columbine’s Hand Crew Supervisor. Mr. Jesse is now a Bureau of Indian
Affairs Fuels Specialist on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation.
Mrs. Jessey says she’ll miss her PLC cubie-mates, but looks forward to helping
the Columbine softball team improve its record. - Ann Bond
Ms. Odell Goes to Washington
DURANGO – For the last 12 years, Stephanie Odell has coordinated the San
Juan’s Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) program on BLM lands in the Upper Animas
River drainage. Now, she’s headed to Washington, DC, to coordinate the BLM’s
entire national AML Program across the country.
Stephanie served the San Juan as both Abandoned Mine Lands Project Manager
and Hazardous Materials Coordinator. She holds a Biology degree with
minors in Chemistry and Geology from the University of Northern Colorado.
Prior to that, Stephanie worked in the BLM Farmington Field Office as a
Hazmat Coordinator, managing the Lee Acres Superfund Site. She also worked
for the City of Loveland as a water department chemist and industrial pretreatment
specialist, and for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe developing its surface
water protection program.
We’ll miss her energy, drive, and ‘can do’ approach to the job at hand.
We’re also going to miss her sweet potato chips and great cooking!
- Matt Janowiak
Greening the Bunkhouse
The San Juan National Forest maintains a dozen dwellings from Dolores to Pagosa Springs to house
seasonal employees. The oldest ones date back to the 1930s. As these buildings age and require maintenance,
we are incorporating energy and water conservation measures and environmentally friendly products
into improvements.
A recent example involved reconstruction of the interior of the East Animas bunkhouse north of Durango,
after an undetected plumbing leak caused major damage. We were able to incorporate several environmentally
friendly, energy and water conserving measures into the remodel.
Window replacements were installed with low-e insulated glass and dual weather stripping. A closed-cell, spray-in-place
foam insulation (R-19) formulated with renewable agricultural products and a non-ozone depleting blowing agent were
used for crawlspace insulation. Attic and interior walls were insulated with cotton batts (R-49 and R-13) containing 85%
post-industrial recycled natural fibers. Exterior walls were insulated with cellulose insulation (R-20) manufactured from
post-consumer paper fiber, with a recycled content of 80 percent or more.
Bathroom faucets with built-in low-flow aerators and dual flush toilets were installed. New toilet partitions contain 30%
post-industrial recycled HDPE. Energy Star light fixtures using compact, and T-8 fluorescent lightbulbs and Energy Star
appliances were installed, and low odor zero VOC paint was used. All metal was salvaged and recycled, the original
windows donated to Habitat for Humanity, and most cardboard recycled. - Laurie Yeager